🌿 Part 1: Understanding Ecosystem Changes

1. What is an ecosystem? Write your definition below:

2. Circle all the factors that can cause changes in ecosystems:

Seasonal weather patterns

Human construction and development

Introduction of new species

Natural disasters (storms, floods)

Pollution from human activities

Natural plant and animal life cycles

3. Give two examples of local New Zealand ecosystems:

Example 1: _________________________________

Example 2: _________________________________

🔄 Part 2: Natural vs Human Changes

4. Match each ecosystem change with its cause by drawing lines:

1. Forest cleared for farming

2. Trees lose leaves in autumn

3. Wetland drained for housing

4. Storm damages coastal area

5. Possums introduced to NZ

A. Natural seasonal change

B. Human land use change

C. Natural weather event

D. Human species introduction

E. Human development

5. Which type of change is usually easier to predict and plan for?

Natural changes

Human-caused changes

Both are equally predictable

📅 Part 3: Timeline Planning

6. List three important vocabulary words related to ecosystem changes and define them:

7. Think about a local ecosystem. Draw a simple sketch showing what it might have looked like 100 years ago:

8. Fill in the blanks about timeline organisation:

When creating a timeline, events should be placed in _____________ order. The earliest events go on the _______ and the most recent events go on the _______. We can show cause and effect by using _____________ or labels to explain connections between events.